Minor League Ball Gameday Discussion, March 21

Good morning prospect watchers. Here is today's thread to discuss news and notes regarding prospects from the spring training camps in Florida and Arizona. Items that may interest you:

***David Jay is going to help us expand minor league coverage this year. He is down in Arizona right now and got some information about Seattle Mariners prospect Victor Sanchez. Here's what Dave reports:

Victor Sanchez Recovering From Appendectomy

Seattle Mariners righty Victor Sanchez, who burst onto the prospect scene as a 17-year-old in the Northwest League last summer, is recovering from an offseason appendectomy and may not be ready for the start of the minor league season.

The Venezuelan bonus baby is working out at the Mariners' Peoria complex, but is not yet ready for game action. The organization hasn't set a firm timeline for when he will be ready to start his season, but they aren't going to push Sanchez, especially given weather in the Midwest League in April.

"I'm more worried about him adjusting to the [cultural] stuff than I am his ability," said Mariners Director of Player Development Chris Gwynn. "He's good enough to pitch wherever, but he still needs to take the steps and not take it for granted."

Even if the start of Sanchez's season is delayed, he will still be the almost a year younger than any Midwest League pitcher in the last three years.

****Community member SoCalSoxFan was hanging around in minor league camp yesterday and saw Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Archie Bradley in action. He took some outstanding video, which you can find at Bullpen Banter, taking a great look at Bradley's mechanics in slow motion. What do you think of them? Do they look a little stiff?


***The Nationals acquired lefty Ian Krol from Oakland to complete the Mike Morse trade. Here is what I wrote about him in the 2013 Baseball Prospect Book:

Ian Krol had a breakthrough 2010 season, but he missed the first part of 2011 with an elbow injury. He came back in late June and looked good in three outings in the Arizona Rookie League, but he was suspended and shut down again after making an anti-gay slur on Twitter. Krol has a history of douchebaggery with a suspension in high school on his resume. He also has a good feel for pitching, a 90 MPH fastball, a good curveball, and a solid changeup. He reportedly looked fine in instructional league and has hopefully learned his lesson about social media. Krol is young enough to outgrow any personality issues. Let's see how his elbow holds up. Grade C+.

Krol avoided injury problems and Archie Bunker outbursts last year, but didn't pitch especially well, struggling at times in the unforgiving California League. He pitched better as the season progressed, showing a better changeup in particular. He gave up some runs after moving up to the Texas League, but his K/BB and K/IP ratios were quite good and that's more important for his future projection. Krol's scouting report is the same as before; he's got the stuff, but he needs more consistency. He remains young enough at 22 to have a substantial career. Grade C+.